How do CVT transmissions work, and what are their pros and cons?

A:

Quick Answer

CVT transmissions use two pulleys to connect the engine and drive wheels, which increases the amount of power available to the car, but with the downside of significantly altering how the engine sounds. A car with CVT transmission also benefits from greater fuel efficiency.

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A regular automatic transmission has set speeds for when to shift gears. As the car speeds up, the gears automatically increase. In a CVT transmission, two pulleys with variable diameters connect both the engine and drive wheels. The transmission ratio can be changed by moving the pulleys together, effectively increasing the pulley's diameter.

The main advantage of CVT transmission is that the engine speeds can be changed to provide maximum power at any time. This also allows for faster acceleration.

A CVT transmission can often make sounds similar to those caused by a fault in a regular transmission engine. These sounds are normal for CVT transmissions, but can cause concern among drivers. This is one of the main reasons why CVT transmissions have not been adopted by more car owners. The first CVT transmissions also had issues with reliability. Modern CVT transmissions can cope with much greater power than the original models, which means they are far more reliable.